Good evening and welcome to school committee this evening Monday August the thirty
first let us begin with the Pledge of Allegiance. But really
this is
a flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands one
nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all.
So long at
a school committee means educational policies to foster continuous him prove meant
by challenging and supporting all children in the safe carry learning environment
enabling them to reach their see their highest potential and to become productive
citizens who are effective communication and positive relationships for long better
school committee will make informed decisions in the best interest of the students
the schools and the Longmeadow can. Do For the record for the meeting tonight is
being recorded for the C.T.V.
Aired live and being live streamed at Longmeadow dot org. So.
I guess we will begin with any visitor contacts.
You know one out of interest the six in St I just said three quick questions for
you one. I guess for you Madam Secretary and I'm Chair sorry. She has there
been any progress or have you looked into the sort of discussion we had
a few months ago about creating
a subscription list where if you can sort of sign up and receive the material from
the school committee such as the agenda material which is sort of mentioned that it
was
a request that you had made that it was decided by the committee to retreat that we're
not taking that on the agenda was and that's when the meeting schedules and the
agendas are posted on the town website. As required by law. OK
I just sort of encourage you to reconsider down the line just because sort of like
a push or pull if you have to go always and check your email instead of actually
having you know come to your phone is just much easier to get that information
leave out of the lot better the town website you know you can subscribe to have
information sent to you when it's posted or I'll look into the thank you so much
the second question I had was if you could just give
a quick answer in terms of how many classrooms were being created in blueberry
after this sort of post yesterday and this fall as in the year you were just
married or somebody else can answer it's it's anybody can answer that but just
wanted to see I guess the goal was to try to create at least three questions and I
wanted to see if that goal was met another some question of the model that
information was given at our last meeting in
a presentation. And it will be accessed on the Web site on the Power Point however
Diane has been out there three of them and so things are slowly getting put up
there as we're back to school but yes room has been created there are no more than
two teachers. In
a classroom in those situations and special questions so someone just for
my question was worth three classroom I'm able to do it so we've gone through that
whole MS Press has provided maps and the story has provided an entire presentation
at our last meeting that information is available to the public so do you know do
you know how many classroom not offhand protests are because I'm focusing on
tonight's Business OK. If you can just sort of. Just
a simple maybe for the next meeting you can respond just point question how many
classrooms or created the goal was three how many were created and the cost was
comparable to what was presented to the community back in the program terms of if
we were district this is how much money is going to be saved if we don't this is
how much money we're going to be sharing with this special it's just one of just
simple comparison and what was presented community was that and all of that chance
presented at our last meeting in
a presentation done by the superintendent in redistricting it was never said that
we were saving money. On this story all made that very clear in our presentations
through the redistricting committee and made that very clear through the whole
process that the point of redistricting was not saving money saving teachers so I
would urge you to either watch your last meeting or to check out the information
that will be posted on our website which has all of the answers to the questions
that you're asking that there's no point in our committee revisiting those same
questions over and over again we've got
a lot of work to do just in our regular year plus we are beginning
a superintendent's search so. Being repetitive I feel is taking away the time that
we need to spend working. OK so I am not trying to be disrespectful it's just we
I don't know if you you know didn't watch our meeting last week or were not
available but all of that was presented it was difficult to comprehend the answer
to the question and the answer to my question could be just one sentence because
Miss Pratt had her goal was three questions I just want to know just
a simple question How many question for game just one number one or two or three is
just from them or in terms of I don't find the date from the last presentation I'm
used to resent it and it's about cost savings but she did put in numbers to say if
we. Do not redistrict this is the cost we're going to incur if we do redistrict
there's two hundred something thousand if I recall offhand that will be saved not
the goal but it was just pro-trade to the community that if we don't exist it will
be incurring costs I just want to compare them that's all so I just did two numbers
to be comparable in two sentences this can be answered but but that's all it's just
a simple question I can units and we'll take that under consideration but I'm not
promising that that would be read as that of the. Last question I guess relevant to
tonight's discussion I guess we just have to understand it's very difficult for the
community to ask questions on the topics of that committee is meeting without
knowing what the discussion is I followed
a discussion last time but couldn't answer answer that's why I'm asking the second
question in written in response to that discussion with
a good chance to look at the gender real quick for today so in terms of crossing
guards. Would encourage the community to talk and consider when crossing guards on
our new van Ellington those two are cut through streets and I just want to
elaborate that will further. Understand there are other cut through streets in the
neighborhood
a with people covering the morning but these two are straight very so people can
actually garner
a lot of speed specially going from oral two to the road five side the speed limit
on that road is thirty five miles an hour I live on one of those streets speed
usually is in excess of forty to forty five miles so from one from the from oral to
five somebody can actually go really fast so. I know that the school committee does
not have jurisdiction over placing the crossing guards that something has been done
from the from the police but the school committee does have an input as Mr oil and
myself and the others have talked to pursue so I would just urge you to consider
putting those crossing guards there so the safety of children. And thank you.
Any other this it or comments. Seen on any school committee
Commons. Yang of one I just want to thank the committee for your
flexibility in meeting eight o'clock to seven you know it's going to lead into the
next agenda item but we had
a very productive meeting in the subcommittee I were excited to share you know our
discussions with you so thank you very much for being with me today. And
when. I think it is for some of those questions that really.
I don't know the exact answer that would cost one but I think it's simple enough to
answer the classroom one. Which is it appeared we were going to save three
classrooms one was from the fifth grade moving up to his redistricting we filmed
one so we've saved
a total to. Confess to something. Just
based on that tour and the maps that every Pratt from. We. There are at least
three classrooms that were three rooms that were classrooms last year they're now
being used for something else like I think there's
a math room down on the first grade hall and then there's two classrooms one across
from music and I want to cross from art that last year they were classrooms and now
they're specialised special session they like I don't know exactly which one they
are because I don't have the map with me but I know they're I think one is and you
know well it was another and those are our children that we had kind of lumped into
the classroom before and so I think you could be in great shape best of my
knowledge. You know what I can see you know I don't. I just want to be nice
to be those that are three love them was
a big. One of the other ones because of redistricting refilled one of the future
the river. So I'm just saying that's
a simple answer for the room you know I mean it's pretty I mean there's resource
room things that they did but to me when I look at it I was looking at rooms you
could use as a classroom or use as
a resource room and so in my opinion I would get it we've got three rooms that are
. Great and when I toured wall swamp and I toured blueberry.
It was it just felt so much better to me that they were using this basically you
know Center school obviously has more space. Which is and we turned toward thunder
as well and when I toured them I just I was just felt it was so nice that the
schools were actually using their space they all have this it seemed like they all
had
a similar amount of space that they were using equally. And I think that was one of
our main goals with this and have distribution of students even now. You
don't just you know I mean it's
a lyric from here so yeah I know I know you I figured I don't I don't know if I was
allowed to do it but I don't tell you what I saw So the thing is in terms of cost I
don't think there's any easy way to answer the cost questions because so many other
variables have taken place we've added teacher student increased involvement which
had nothing to do with redistricting. Is so cost wise you know it's like comparing
apples to oranges it's not that we're comparing the same cost factors anymore it's
not the same cost basis. You know and I think you did
a great job of explaining that in last week's presentation is that these are the
positions that have to be added this year from
a budget that was developed in December and January because of changes in Roland
and those changes you highlighted last time so I'm not sure that there's an answer
that can be given. Just say that was the cost in line with what was discussed at
redistricting because we have over
a hundred some more students right now than we did in March when have various
leaders say it was not about numbers it was about space it was never right to issue
whatever numbers were told very clear that it was about space not just right so
that's why I was answering that you know to try to go back and calculate those
costs I think is an exercise in futility because so many factors have changed along
the way and it was very clear from the meetings of redistricting of the
superintendent stating this is not about the cost this is about equalizing the
experience and equalizing enrollment. But you know I would
say to be very easy to figure out the cost myself I mean we have basically the
exact same number of kids we did last year on the thing that would be
a productive My Three Sons. But it would be difficult for your cost them to do it
for them although I'm sure if we asked Mr Monson to do it you could come to him
that's when we should because of me you know some point I'm going to move on but
it's. You know sitting in meetings I thought it was presented is there are going to
be savings or it's going to cost more if we do it you know the way it was in the
point of redistricting but certainly the message was whether that happened or not
me I would certainly be whether we actually see any money I think it probably cost
us money. And I do think we could come here with I don't know that that's really
going to make it good or the right end and what is the point of doing that at this
time I guess is my question why should we ask Mr Massa and Mr Boyle
and those of us who are you know trying to put together you know be productive and
work and move forward since we don't stick to this overall what goal does trying to
compare those numbers or. The end of the that we can persons of the
accountability and I don't believe that's necessarily something we need to do right
now. OK And. Are there
any other school committee comments I do have one. As I sent you all in
an e-mail this weekend I apologize for the late notice Oh. See
agenda being sent it made me realize how much I rely on Diane for her
systems however with the loss of her father she was on bereavement last week made
sure that you know when Tom we got the agenda posted to the town website which is
what we're legally required to do and I would just ask the members of the community
members of our community. The understanding of them realizing that there are many
of us also have jobs outside of this and to know that the
agenda is always found on the town website as I said when we started the meeting
the F.A.Q.
Was all of the things that were discussed at our retreat and approved with changes
along the way are in the process of getting posted however with the start of the
school year. And it's quite
a busy time for Diana and you know the certainly wasn't something she had planned
on going. And we appreciate all that she does so I would just ask for your
understanding that. So moving. It and I'm like
What about. The superintendent so absolutely so. I outlined at the last
meeting the process by which the our for peace subcommittee would be working to
determine and make a recommendation to this committee and just to give everybody
a reminder of that the three of us Michelle and I have been meeting with Chad and.
To go over the our piece the requests for proposals those are peas were in response
to a not or the responses were in response I should say to an R.P.
We put out middle of August due back on the twentieth we received four responses
those responses were from rain associates. Out of Cedar Rapids Iowa H
Y A. Nasdaq and Atlanta greasers partners they were the four that had
that responded and so they provided us with outlines of what they plan to do the
timelines. The scope of the work they were going to do resumes for the people that
potential would be conducting the search is an A list of references and through
that information we conducted our technical evaluations which is part one of
a two part process that the subcommittee followed through this up through the
technical evaluation we answer questions ranked one through three one being not
advantageous three being very advantageous to being somewhat advantageous right yes
. On comparable experience years of experience staffing and capability
strategy and plan search timeline approach to community vision for materials and
promotions and references and just to kind of outline what some of those things are
I think the top three were answers that we all got the same they were ones that you
pull the information out of the R.P.
And you answer it the way you can thing. Strategy and plan search timeline approach
to community and materials and promotion those things are really kind of subject to
our own personal opinion about whether or not they were track of the materials that
they provided whether we found the approach to community sufficient across the
community being. Interviews with members of the community stakeholder forums
surveys the approach that they used to the school committee the search timeline
being whether or not it met up with our timeline and we were
a little bit liberal in how we get into interpreted that because you know they
don't all match up because they're going to present the we're recommending present
us with an actual timeline but it was you know A and asked no strategy in plan
whether we agreed with it or things that we agreed with things that we didn't. And
so at the end of the day what happened is that Chad took the three scores that we
all provided him on all these indicators and I looked behind them in the summer.
And he added them together. And we had
a discussion. You got yours. From our. Papers here Chad.
And I got it you. Got an article. And so this was the first part the second
part that was the first part we want to read today and so the way that it came out
was that Ryan associates had
a composite score of seventy one. That Atlantic research partners had
a composite core of sixty two. H Y A A composite score fifty nine and Nasdaq
had
a composite score of fifty seven so following that we had discussions about price
proposals and we went over the different proposals and they came in two parts the
first part is a flat rate fee which is the basic fee for service that the that
a consultant would charge and then there's additional expenses and those additional
expenses include travel travel expense costs for the candidate and the consultants
advertising they and they include things like meals and perdiem as they include
things like. Thank you
a lot of stuff but honestly I think that for those coming scope of it.
They things like community engagement evolving survey you know recruitment
screening so the time and some of the companies charged additional money that was
not included in the total additional expenses like. Background checks per candidate
some of them used external firms some of them did internal because they have the
capability to do it and so you know it became I should also say that during this
process because we asked for proposals we were not precluded in choosing the to
choose the. Lowest possible better but we did have to you know figure out why we
were going to choose the most advantageous from
a technical evaluation perspective. And we got lucky in that respect because the
recommended recommendation we're going to make tonight is for rain associates and
rain associates have the highest technical evaluation score and they were the. A
third lowest priced. Which means that their total recommendation to us was for
twenty five or their total proposal was for twenty five thousand nine hundred
dollars. There was
a dozen on the second lowest right that's right there was second Melissa thank you
their third for you in my mind they were third. In the way I was organizing my head
right associates was the second lowest and Nasdaq came in the lowest but they also
had
a lowest total score and so they were very easy for us to eliminate after that we
had
a real conversation around Atlantic partners and each way of search executive search
came in the highest and they also had the third lowest score so also very easy to
eliminate them and then it came down to limit partners and that was
a matter of the references most of the people who we spoke to gave the companies
very positive references by some of the references where land if were not as
positive as rain associated I know Michelle if you want to speak to some of the
references that you got on great associates. Yes I spoke with. You
but I would like someone from the Pennsylvania Manheim township in Lancaster
Pennsylvania who had has used rain associates for
a few searches in the last couple of years and has used them as consultants
following the hires and. Very very happy I spoke to someone from
Florida who again had
a great experience with them and. I made notes on the last
reference that all three were very favorable and they were very happy with the work
. There were reports of that before.
So rain associates came in at twenty five thousand nine hundred for
a total flat rate plus additional expenses Elana research partners came in
a thirty thousand four hundred fifty H.Y.U.K.
Methody one. Thousand five hundred and NASDAQ
a minute sixteen thousand and nine fifty six. It's limited these extra expenses
there are some kind of call for occasion yeah so they typically in most of these
have provided that. A disclaimer that all expenses and estimates based on past six
hour based on their past experiences but will only be billed for the expenses we
actually incur and so
a lot of the expenses are left up to us to say we want so that the where we
advertise for instance we can decide how much we want to spend on advertising which
would limit the amount that they spend on advertising we can decide how often we
want the consultant here one of the things that was great about the company where I
commending is that they were the only ones that offer video and telecommunications
are tele you know commuting sort of service. You know so all of those
things obviously add up but we you know we can basically say when we work with them
and when we sign
a contract with them that we you know we don't want to spend more than X.
On advertising we don't want to advertise in the Globe or you know wherever and
that's really where the main cause of where
a lot of the cost is going to come from that's
a little bit more intangible with this company for instance. Called Yeah I. Would
give the twenty four falls right vision there's that seems to me that we're yeah
closure and so we're going to do some sifting you know sort of go. Yes we're going
to be build on top of the next year's through there are extras that could be
included I dish and all consultant time and the way that they define additional
consultant time is that
a flat fee is inclusive of all the services they provide the only hourly rates that
would apply would be for requests above and beyond the scope of the proposal and so
in the proposal and I might miss some of the stuff but they talk
a. And they go very very deep into what type of work they're going to be doing and
this is the same for most of them that they will customize the search process to
meet the needs and expectations the law medical schools that they will conduct
individual board member interviews so those are the one on one conversations with
the consultant to assess the board's priorities the goals objectives to aid the
development of the criteria and qualifications for the superintendent position
they'll work with the board to establish that timeline that we talked about. To
discuss the requirements in the salary range for the superintend
a position they will work with the waterhole
a school staff and those selected by the board in the development of an accurate
informational flyer an online application form. If we want they will provide
a consensus building mechanism for obtaining inputs from various constituencies
including staff members other stakeholders and the board other stakeholders of
course could be community members. They also will provide the board the cost saving
option such as using Skype which will save
a lot on air travel. Conference calls go to meetings you know things that can
reduce paper costs because part of the proposal includes copies they're budgeting
seventeen cents per copy so anything that we can do at tronic we would be probably
preferred you know they're including three hundred fifty dollars for you know fax
some of that information could also be done electronically rather than shift faxing
I don't know what we would use
a fax for. Recruiting screening they notify all the associates to actively recruit
potential candidates so you're really getting
a five member team of people who are working very diligently to build
a community profile to work with members the community in the school committee on
the screening your having them bring these get these candidates in. And present and
they'll you know spend some time with the community and then what we like the most
is that included in this price after we hire the superintendent they'll come back
and spend some time with us some reflection time. To help us continue to build
strong relationships with whoever that candidate is so you really do get
a lot out of these people. You know quite honestly. Which did the search last time
I think has
a lot of positives but based on the information that we've asked war in the bids
they scored the lowest on the technicals it just out of the loss of the lowest
price and so here we are with the highest scoring technical but the second lowest
price which is a good position to be in I think. So that's I mean we get we get
a lot of bang for our buck on this and I know you did
a lot of where you talk to them
a lot of some of the services we get since we spoke with the references. Well I the
person from Pennsylvania used their follow up services and felt that that was just
. Extremely useful and helping the transition. And create some goals.
Looking for the third district. Sorry.
Someone from Fort Lauderdale Florida had nothing but great things to say about his
consultant. And. Story
and Roosevelt New York again. I think all of
the people that I spoke with worked with the. One of the people that was
recommended or that was listed in the key associates for the project which was
important to us to see the references was that where the actual consultant that we
believe will be having. Just
a very excessive They provided
a great pool of applicants they were happy with the people that they ended up
hiring from the search. Firm was very excessive all met all of their you know
requests for meetings and they held one on one interviews with the school committee
members and. Members of the community they held
a lot of formal forums and everything is just you know everything they said was
just. Very favorable and they you know when they make
a recommendation I think this is important as I know we've heard from members of
the community who want to participate in this process and on the committee and they
make
a recommendation you know on who involved in that process which I think is helpful
you know and I know that they. You know after that I think what does it say it says
that. The top two sometimes three candidates or finalists are brought back to the
district for an open forum with the public and they provide
a process for you know for that which includes
a moderator which is sometimes nice and definitely helpful you know questions from
the audience or some of their writing to ensure the candidates are only asked about
legitimate issues related to the positions that they do
a really good job to make sure that the candidates who come in are brought forward
you know how the opportunity about their educational vision you know and I know
that there are hundreds of searches that go on every year and you know depending on
the community sometimes there are you know issues that are pretty divisive that I
think they want to try to you know really focus on the issues that you know shape
educational leadership. You know they do it's immune from everything we've seen
everything we've heard there you know they engage in the community piece which I
know is so important in Longmeadow is really you know really really done well you
know and I think that what we've heard throughout the beginning this process and
we're going to continue to hear is that you know people want to be involved and so
whether they're involved on the search committee or whether they have the
opportunity to meet directly with these candidates to the point you know I think
that these consultants are going to make
a point of making sure that everybody gets to play
a role in this or at least have some input into it before this committee makes its
ultimate higher. And I will add the woman from Pennsylvania that I spoke to at one
point they did not use
a search firm and so she spoke to that and said how different it was using ran
associates and being able to have them that the candidates for them ahead of time
and. Narrow down what their community really
needed verses and the other thing they helped with was how much they should you
know list the position for and what they would be getting They helped with.
Designing
a good. Estimate salary you know estimated salary so she said that all of that
really helped them find the right candidate the next time also it's important I can
just add sorry is that they before they even get to the point where there's three
or four candidates they bring back for forums they will do they will offer the
community staff and parents after space and morning and evening forums that are
organized to solicit input via survey process and create dialogue by asking us
a series of questions about desired characteristics and then for people who can't
make these meetings they have an online profile survey option with space for
written comments and they compile this it's part of their thirty three desirable
characteristics and they you know basically use
a quantitative approach based off of input to develop
a profile for which communities which candidates are to be
a good match for the community so from day one through you know the last day of the
process you know trying to determine who
a good candidate is you know honestly has very little to do with this committee
beyond the fact that we hire them it really does come from the people who respond
to these surveys that attends forums that help shape the direction of you know of
the search so that's you know I think that's going to be really great selling
itself sorry about that. There's
a mention of. Flying in and it is
seems to be
a candidate for this position if you want to pay the way for the interview you have
to pay for people. If we want them to come in. From out of
say well you know one of the benefits of going with the cheapest one is that their
instinct is that they're from Massachusetts and and would be. Familiar with the
Massachusetts educational practices. The debates that have been going on. Here.
I really don't see how we get any advantage by bringing in some people from New
Jersey. Or Chicago. Really would have to be sold and so I could just
add to that yeah because you know I want to respond is worthy of their references
from Massachusetts Cambridge thank you introduce them and zero nine and I actually
saw that they worked with Springfield and. Just recently said just recently
Springfield for a leadership role I don't think it was
a superintendent and. Side he was attorney aware of public schools
OK recently conducted superintendent search for where in public schools and the
principal search for Boston Public Schools and previously assisted Springfield
public schools and Cambridge Public schools in their educational leadership
searches so the other thing the reference that I spoke to from New Jersey did
mention was that her consultant was very mindful of scheduling his travel around
other searches that were near them so that he could help you know minimize the
costs of his travel I think. They will help find us candidates if we say we really
want to find candidates in the Massachusetts area or that's what they do you know
so I think in terms of the candidates expenses who are coming to us for interviews
one thing I can say is that they. Can be interviewing
over
a video they they provide video. Feed to us of the interviews so we can actually
watch them and the candidate doesn't have to travel to us so we will see yes we
want them to come right out of Madrid is that true of all of them they're all going
to do well they're the only ones that outlines. Pacifically that they would provide
us with not only video capability but the opportunity to watch them do their
initial screenings and the other thing I say is and this is true for all four of
them John is that the scope of the surge is completely dependent on the decision of
this committee and so most of these with and I think even that stack include
airfare because if we decide we want to do
a nationwide search then that's something they have to factor in if we decide we
want to limit it to New England than or limited to Massachusetts then that airfare
cost is going to go away so you know that really depends on what this board wants
to do they're going to work for whatever we decide we want to do and that's true of
all of these all of them quite honestly. And exist. In the
finance world here interviewing If you live in that she's it's in your interviewing
in Chicago a good chance that if they've called you in as
a final candidate like top two or three candidates they're going to pay your
airfare you to fly and I don't think it's like that for you to fly out there most
of the time and less It says on the job application. You know they must pay their
only place before traveling spent there's not
a back for what the phrase is but I know you know speaking as someone who's. Going
to hear her husband have participated in in the distances the other car it's
a common thing for you to pay for your candidate that's a one or two or even maybe
a three to fly and if we decide that for
a group we. Have not. Trouble for any other candidates and I've
been on
a couple panels for you know your for principles for as forcible the hospital door
for teachers Oh I just offer that. You're correct about the business world that's
a whole other are going to take over but rather it's also
a lot of money will deny you are you one that's and that's why it's up to us to you
know to determine the scope of where we want to go. I thought you were really
referring to air for fear for the consultants that's part of it as well but it's
the one we get and yeah I mean that's right and depending on where they come from
and I think who they person they're recommending or would be most likely for them
to recommend I think is kind of New Jersey so I don't know if there's going to be
a flight there might be
a gas reimbursement on that but. You know I mean when we get to the point if there
is
a candidate far enough out I imagine we would be flying them and do the consultants
. As far as coming here with say from New Jersey or any of those covered by the
twenty five of those and we do have like we don't know the story on the Yanks are
charging you they I think that they have said they have what is that they we just
had this conversation in the other room. I think that they budgeted for what six to
eight there's cigarettes are workers forty seven forty seven visits to the district
. For the seventy four weeks or more. While their travel their
expenses for the their nine hundred not incurred costs are estimates so
will be billed based on actual who don't pay for their current not their top their
regret expenses and what are they give us some of this for yet ballpark Yeah that's
airfares they're budgeting two thousand. Ground transportation at fifty six cents
a mile which is the I.R.S.
Reimbursable rate is five hundred dollars hotel if needed for stakeholder me and so
that's making the assumption they're not they're staying overnight they're
budgeting six twenty five. Meals they're budgeting one hundred fifty dollars car
rental three hundred dollars and Trouts of the travel subtotal after that is thirty
seven or thirty five seventy five and they put the disclaimer in here that expenses
would be less if this if you live
a local consultant so you assume that that two thousand dollars if it's someone
from the Northeast would be shifted into that. That that ground transportation.
Last week my oh. I know you mentioned
a lot about the video from the center teleconference saying not only us watching
you know their initial interviews and all but that's an option for them the thing
with us and. You know is that. Is that how they're keeping the
travel expenses lower because I would imagine going to
a lot of teleconferencing as opposed to physical media. I don't know I
I didn't read it as that they were doing more of the interacting and facilitating
with us through video I think that what I read that to be was in their initial
round of narrowing down the candidate pool they perform interviews and they video
those interviews right so that we can see those I think
a lot more of this is face to face consultant time and and if we have I mean all of
the firms are accessible to us any time we need to you know ask them questions or.
And we could certainly utilize that if we were in
a pinch but I think their goal would be to to meet with us and I think that's
mainly what they laid out in their proposal was and that's you know the contactor
for you but right and I was hearing something different I just wanted to me clarify
I don't think that we I think everybody would feel comfortable you know I mean
PERSON No I think that they see you know I know they they they are really it seems
to me like they're really good about being accessible which we also heard from age
where it was pretty good by the exhaustible and so I think my my read on it was
about if we needed them in
a pinch that you know that was an option for us all and one of the references said
she got
a phone call or she called him at twelve in the morning and he answered You know
the consultant so I think they were very very. Excessive although I did tell you
what you yourself said well you know I don't think we're going to be calling them
but she mentioned so that so. So that's yeah. You know they also they are
listed some of the places that they would be advertising which is like the say John
Bolton website. You know and that factors in some of the advertising dollars that
they're talking about so like you know edgy Ad Week newspaper and website would be
they're estimating and this is
a suggested price from the technical evaluation not you know not the total not
including the proposal but I think they can hash
a little bit they're saying like thirty five hundred dollars for you know
a job listing that would run three times in print and twice on the website. But you
know again we tailor that to you know the needs of the committee and where we want
to sue so they have an injury. There in Lakewood New Jersey in Cedar
Rapids Iowa and I mean I think all that's new here and I don't know how do they
tell me different Yeah they give us some. Yeah but one of the people that they
included in here is from Lakewood which is where their offices. This. Also
from all those guys from Missouri. But again I think I was on I
think let's say the person coming from Iowa would coordinate his
travel with other districts that he was providing searches for at the time so I
mean I know I have to see right you know where some of these other consultants. You
know build up that some of these rip you know these really one or two so that. Well
he has signed
a single. Point person. Or will that be all these traders
were interested it was there would be a lead consultant
a song to Longmeadow with the other but they didn't really help me yes and on their
end of the job we would most likely have the same person here in Arkansas where I
understood Yeah it says that they have five or more consultants on staff to perform
the superhuman search and key leave personnel searches. And that they would
be. So their professional contacts they were so see it's they have over
hundreds of associates nationwide so they have
a bunch shot throughout Massachusetts in the Northeast and the key associates for
the project are the ones that appear to be higher up executives in the company
including the owner of the president so I think that you know I don't think we're
going to get these folks necessarily We won't know and these are the key associates
for the project so it wasn't their top it but it's but then they also make mention
of the fact that they have other national contacts throughout the region right who
would be supporting this team though in the way I read the proposal was this is our
team because I think they needed to in the R P identify who we would be having so
that where they said key associates for the project in this company actually listed
more than some of the other companies did but then they have another one hundred
seventy people that would be supporting them doing background checks betting
candidates who look like they have six of them and three of them are from New
Jersey and I developed. If you do then any of them talk about. How they go through
to verify the gradual flow offered by a candidate or
a product of them in that. Process to use to make sure you are free.
To support them that's
a good question so age why you probably outlined the most specifics on that and
that was like on the finalists but I almost think that but they have
a prescreen database exactly as guys are saying is that they have this is ran
associates who are you know obviously recommending and they say that they have.
Where is it they the fermentation very large prescreen database of top candidates
who are interested in new and challenging position so. That you know they. They
aggressively are going to advertise the best candidates any topic ations. So
basically they're saying they have
a very large database of prescreened outlook and they don't get dozens and the day
when you get detail on what the screening process is for candidates I can tell you
that for the kit for the finalists for H Y A. They.
Change they will take the completion of a conference a background check on
a finalist by an independent third party firm and that background review will
confirm degrees attain any data regarded regarding the candidate on file with
a criminal or domestic courts driving record credit history. Printed in social
media reviews of the candidate inside that. Group says the pool bothers
me I mean we're a suburban. Affluent district with
a college prep modality if you will is that because they have
a category of those folks already there my question would be that means someone
didn't pick them. All going to go with the ones that picked like the apples in the
. But here you go warmer Oh.
I'm not dramatic Jorgen No no I'm serious about. I think it should and we have it
the other way we I mean we say this is who we are and most of what we this is
a World War. And then you're going to hear
a story. You see. I think they do both John I think
they put out our ads and they say you know we're Longmeadow this is all about us
we're looking for
a superintendent then people will be submitting resumes to them they may have
a database of their own and who are looking for jobs let's say and they'll do
a good job and they say of matching you know our district criteria what we want in
a candidate to what you know they know they have and who has applied and they go
through it did say they check references provided and conduct additional background
investigation of the top candidates so they're they're doing
a lot of that work for us I think some some of the OK A check of candidates work
history is also completed utilizing online resources such as Google Yahoo Bing
Facebook Twitter and other social media sources so they they do
a lot of that screening to make sure that we're not getting there really was using
back. OK. Being in the world I mean I think so.
I don't even know what Being is. Exactly right in the middle they also gave
a good example sample brochures of what. Like are districts looking for
in terms and what are districts like so it's advertised. As well. I mean if
the truth is at the end of the day anybody we spoke to who was happy with their
support and it was going to get the result in
a relatively good reference JAG you know we asked them. Nine different by. Sions we
agreed on what those questions were you know some of those questions included
questions like you know what were the issues you have with your with your with the
firm you know what were the things the issues that you ran into while doing the
search so you know we definitely got the answer I mean
a lot of the answers were we didn't really have that many you know so. You know I
think at the and I'll be honest with you before we had just met I was leaning
towards H Y A But you know quite honestly they they're composite score on the
technical was low and they were high priced so you know I think with brain
associates we you know we have you know they met the they met when we asked them
through to meet we have you know we've put forward
a set of standards we wanted them to meet when they submitted this proposal they
met them all and they met them highly you know quite honestly higher than anybody
else and you know quite honest and honestly you know I think I know we use Nasdaq
last time they came in the lowest. On I mean then provide us with any of the
information that we are hardly any of the information we asked for. So this
question for you since you did it on interviews or those of dumping rain associates
what we did was we chose
a firm and then we split and so I have gotten that you know is going to. Face up
Michael's last comment of you know your your list of my questions and and one of
them. You know what struggles did you have what issues did you have. To share
with us so we'll know when and he said and what the question was you know was there
anything that you wish they had done differently and I each person that I spoke to
didn't have anything that they wish they had done differently they just were
extremely happy with their services. That.
Further questions. So you're so we're
search the search committee is make their recommendations and I guess I take
a motion for. A move on the recommendation of the peace subcommittee to award rein
Associates Incorporated the contract on medical schools they were. Going to have
search. That good motion and I second the emotion and the second is there any
further discussion. You know oh we're so great we don't have to do roll call vote
anymore I made that joke Thank you everybody so we do one for all time thank you
very much because so all those favor he said getting started and they've been
a great associate. And he goes. Oh goal OK
So you know I mean it's cold. So the next step for the committee over I don't
know if I could well now that you have awarded
a contract I think we need to appropriate money so that if we have the funds
available so I would recommend the school committee appropriate thirty thousand for
the search. Based on the twenty five thousand nine hundred dollars cost again some
of those are estimates and also for the related possible related expenses to the
finalist travel and so on and so. Anywhere in particular you want to come for
school choice if it's you know that's what the funds been used for these one time
expenses that are on anticipated. So. And then we can I can update you as
with the progress we've gone all along in terms of the expenses related to the
search and if we don't spend it all just revert back to
a fun balance in school. So I'm most. Moved that the school committee
appropriate thirty thousand dollars from the school choice for. To the general
appropriate appropriate for the purpose of superintendence research get second in
a sense and. All those in favor. And the
billion the next step is going to be that Chad's going to contact the brain
associates let them know that we were the contract and they will be here on the
fifteenth and at that point they're going to do their Basically we're expecting
them to hit the ground running they're going to show us probably there were
probably to meet our lead consultant or and maybe all of them at some point. We're
going to have probably you know an initial timeline to look at you know they're
going to go over and make their sort of presentation to us and what we can expect
from them moving forward so it's should be if anybody can. Make some
suggestions of what. Is what they're able to present that you know what they should
be able to answer that you think. Because I'm thinking you know not only I'm lying
. But things like composition of the committee yet of the actual search
committee I think that's part of it to run and I don't know what people that
already discussed so I'd want to be not much we want to make sure you guys vote or
something every So do you guys want to just get together or talk to make sure that
Chad's got all the nation of the media and I would say and I don't want to like
volunteer and you had to receive of them are going to be e-mails but I guess if
anybody has specific things they want to see talked about you know do you do you
want us to filter that for you or do you want to handle it I don't Chad wants to
refer them to somebody in the school department or
a school committee member so he's not in the middle of trying to convey you are so
what I write yes if you have specific items you'd like to discuss when they come
here please let me know. What those. These are no later than Van
how long do you think that each out of. The fifteen.
Was like the. Would say by the end of this week Michael by the end of this week
yeah you guys we're going to assume and Chad to be in contact with them tomorrow to
let them know that they're expected to be here on the fifteenth and that then
somebody you can will be in touch with whomever from brain associates about the
expectation and actually just to make our job
a little easier Chad when you speak with them tomorrow will you ask them what
they're planning to present and then we can make amendments to it bay and I will
make sure that everybody gets
a copy of that tomorrow you know we're going to they send it over I should say you
know is there is there are they said that you know. I haven't got
a copy of it I can send out are ever able to as the public groups are used to and I
have I have hard copies if people would like
a public document right so some I want some of them right I was actually copies of
my office if anybody will I meant electronically. Paper. Right so if anybody wants
a copy the last one time anybody wants something they want to see presenting it
with Michael by Friday make sure Chad gets it all and just to kind of reiterate
when Chad speaks on tomorrow let them know they're going to let us know what they
are plenty to present so we're you know Russia will submit to them because we want
to see much in it beyond what they are planning or the thinking for there to at
least answer right you know. The less is more the the.
Presentation and it would be really great if we can come in with what they're
proposing for us as opposed to go there for the. Present Yeah and secondly you know
I think this will go along with the use of the earlier incident euro book I would
go like
a breakdown of national search costs so. As much as possible
because I'm not sure I'm really in favor of spending too much money on the
nationalist movement so if we can break the world for us and we can. Figure out
what the additional expenses were. From. We will let them know.
We thank you Mr Withers and once for all of what you did I know you did
a lot of work in
a short amount of. It is just to. Get. To moving on to the
next stage in
a very tender and it's. Causing. Us and our Sunday. Times
when somebody finance so want to explain so finance that there was
a request from the police department for six thousand dollar. For funding an
additional crossing guard to be located at Comverse in LA meadow St.
The cost of crossing guards is in the Palmetto police department budget but
since the redistricting occurred after they had to submit their budget requests for
one sixteenth they did not include the addition of one more crossing
guard so they approached the superintendent in requested dot for F Y sixteen since
it was. Added on after the Budget was approved by the school
department funded for this year and it would be
a one time one year expense that when F Y seventeen they would incorporate the
additional cost associated to the additional location being added so it was
recommended by finance on August twenty sixth I believe I mean that.
And it was recommended and approved to come out of the school trust. So would not
be a transfer of funds to the police department there would be
a transfer of expenses into the school department budget.
So do we need
a motion for discussion. And I am. Sure
. I can help you. Let's hope
you have
a habit to go. I believe the motion was that the school committee on the recommendation
of finance sub appropriate six thousand dollars from the school choice fund to to
support the cost of a crossing guard position. At converse
a moment of shame Sarka most and many further discussed. And I just
ask Will that if we fund this and we find that we need to add another crossing our
will that put us in
a situation where we. Can't add another one. May well. Well
it would have to come back to school committee for an additional vote. So this is
right now going to fund one OK So are we do I guess are we draining something by by
funding what is normally in their budget. Without additional any additional
locations that would be. Staffed they don't have the resources so they would
come back to the school department that my guess would be they'd come back to the
school department for additional funding. So they budgeted for so many I don't know
how many crossing guards they have. They know the salary for the year so they
budgeted that much now that this one was added they don't have the resources in
their budget to pay for so if
a second or third or fourth one were to be added at some point based on whatever
the need. That was determined my guess is that they would probably come back and
look for funding from the school department and the school committee as they did
with this one. Being that it's being added up again after the Budget been approved
and. Then if I sixteen operational so. So
is there an understanding that that's the reason we're doing it and next year it's
still needed that we wouldn't it would revert back to their budget or any
discussion of that's my understanding is that it is funded from fly sixteen from
the school department but enough I seventeen Again assuming that that was that
additional location would still be staffed that the cost associated to that's I
would be included in the police department budget you think once guarantee you know
one time is your only that they would know.
It's part of our discussion. They were going to investigate whether the conditions
that owing to the farmer from need or Grossinger Yes. I think we're concerned about
methodology because apparently what they've done here. If I'm mistaken
someone can correct me. In the past. Going back about five seven years.
They had a crossing guard. With redistricting back in the US but
a limited at that position so all they're doing is going back to work they. There
there was no valid were tional situation granted there could not be because there
were no screw so they're supposed to be in
a voter or should know. What with the next two weeks you know right
enough to get you I think it was part of our discussion Yeah I got this from the
House subcommittee US House it's the sceptically like not just sitting there
monitoring where they're going to be
a specific way that they're going to monitor the traffic close and then it. Safely
say that it is the safe route for the. For the kids to travel I guess that's what
what was what was there that was actually discussion right and I think you know you
know Marie and I have met with old stand puts Captain Fontayne and
they had explained you know in their initial survey of Farmington in Allentown.
Because of the setback of where the crosswalk is in relation to Longmeadow street.
In respect to the sight lines meeting the overhanging trees at
those two crossings which that is not
a problem. And historic data you know which ten years ago that there
weren't any there you know the chief did state that you know obviously now driving
conditions are different. Than they were then but definitely. You know
the police know cumbersome Longmeadow street is an extremely busy intersection and
. Felt that that was of most importance and that they would be evaluating further
they didn't give us how they were going to evaluate. Those other two streets at the
time but both officers who have been in town for quite
a number of years and have seen you know. The changes that have to. Plays did not
feel that those two interceptions were as. Hell the
same concern that converse of all of those that are accurate and they were using
observations of putting officers on the streets to observe traffic so that's how
they play. In The truth is that they want to know what the traffic patterns really
aren't till today honestly Exactly so it's starting today the next two weeks are
going to look like and the fact that in the morning traffic is coming.
As of a transit incidents there coming up Ellington in Farmington to make
a right hand turn onto Longmeadow street it's not as in the evening where people
are traveling down a long narrow street trying to make
a while. On to those streets to cut back or into Laurel's So again as
a driver when you're making
a right hand turn you know you will be seeing the students who are walking in
coming supposedly more easily than if you were making
a left. So can you get up do you know people meetings you know because you have
a window with two police the parents and we're all still here and I have was
writing
a plan for my last discussion was that. You find our chief saying what was going to
give us an update once he completed their own observations as want to add very very
quickly and I meant to say this during busier convert from school to comments. I
don't police department and the school could have heard concerns from parents
related to the cross potential for crossing guards and only to parent and that I
just want to thank them for their response to that I know that Captain Fontayne did
call last night to the entire community. You know advising Yeah vising the
community. I don't know me so I got the message on my cell phone or I write well it
may advise the community I'm like
a lot. Back then you know. Myself OK well I got one but on the day I don't you
think you know you just call me now you know it's not always with
a life or up at the corner of commerce you know these are new traffic routes people
in town are not used to you know the being children out on Congress Street like
that or law ministry like that. You know in addition to the fact that I know on the
news published
a notice so you know it is you know so thank you to you know cap and thank us and
herbs chief thank what's now
a captain funny name for their for their attention to this and for continue to
monitor it because I know that they their priority number one is making sure that
you know our kids get to school safely and that you know that the day starts
without instance you know and I there's no matter what school they're exactly and I
appreciate them continue to monitor the situation because if it does become an
issue I know that they will be responsive Absolutely and then I saw them right now
in the street yeah today so I actually want to organize them it's I regret to miss
that as well I did because that was something that I had asked him. To just kind of
make sure that they're seen Yeah and I was going to write and even driving around
actor's home I was traveling through town between two and three and there was most
definitely
a visible police presence. Traveling So thank you you are yeah officers
for whom you are helping us with this. And you know all.
So any further discussion on the phone. You know in general I'd be interested in
understanding their methodology for the placement of all crossing guards how do
they determine that particular issue over a crossing guard. I think that's
a question curricle question should be here before. Yes or.
Is there any historical component for example have there been accidents of any of
the joke. Was that the reason. For
a moment when they knew. When they contact us or when we get them about doing the
update is the choice and I can certainly ask but I don't but I know I'm not trying
to surprise them so if you're going to know about me I'm somewhat those going to
come out here whether through
a question. Or give the question. Further discussion I'm going to.
Say no or both so all those in favor of appropriating the six thousand choice.
For the funding for one year. Is. The easiest way to their head in one year.
Right and then the third time you've just comes back is what just does back
on July twenty seventh school committee approved fifty three thousand dollars again
from the school choice account to fund
a laundry list of instructional materials bass materials on mind
reading. Software. The last item on the list was for
a words their way instructional materials which is
a word study curriculum for grades three through five. Fortunately we
the price that was listed what the funding that was listed was sixty five hundred
and when the quotes came back it came in at eleven thousand six hundred seventy
five dollars so there would be there's
a request for an additional five thousand one hundred seventy five dollars to
purchase this curriculum material for grades three through five. And again it would
be coming from the school choice account and this is where and yes this was also
recommended by finance about their August twenty sixth meeting so.
I think it was. A move on the recommendation of finance to appropriate five
thousand one hundred seventy five dollars to fund the purchase of the
words their way curriculum for grades three through five second most in the second
and discussed. That we could use directions to. This. Yes
and others learn our lessons are going to last just so. Ballpark I'd say it's
about three hundred in twenty thousand dollars. Pretty healthy
a school committee some years ago develop some guidelines about balances they would
like to see in the revolving accounts and. I believe to fifty was the recommended
balance that they would like to see that fund were out of the recommended minimum
balance
a minimum balance correct thank you. So so there is still approximately seventy
thousand above seventy five thousand above the minimum balance in this is been
pretty stable Yeah it's been up and down depending but it hasn't deployed to fifty
five and has not followed to fifty we were up there for
a while we did spend some money right at the end of last year buying
a number of curriculum materials textbooks and so on so. But that's
ballpark we haven't closed off I fifteen yet but based on
a report back from want to say was like mid July. One.
Preschool place. And there is. Jer's around
words with this. It's a softer Oh sure it's
a yeah and goal was to get first second although the words that you are no
mean only up and share like. He says the think you.
Need to order that they don't yet know he has much of anything are you waiting for
night to order that's why we write. It with
a. Disability something else probably that's in the agenda that we know what we
need to get thank you and tell yourself. You know. Who it is something that they'll
be able to implement this year yes OK. For the description.
So you know the hope on both of those in favor of. The most is that
it. Totals with most of this evening but action to address I think that in the
second I just want to remind everyone that our next meeting is on
a shoestring. September fifth at seven pm. Here is
so different day you want to make sure that he was aware and I will enjoy the
motion to adjourn. To return to the. Second all those in favor.
All right thank you everyone have
a great evening. My phone. You have. Made just ten minutes notify me
you can you know great I'm going to town through yeah and you can sign up for what
you want to be no this idea Chad let me just let you know I sure you want to google
doc for all the starker I'm sorry we got someone else will be in real time
resolving room to room.